Best of Week 11 action

The final weekend of the high school regular season was filled with plenty of drama.
The Bay Area News Group’s roundup has you covered.
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On to the roundup …
Ranked teams
No. 2 Pittsburg 48, No. 25 Antioch 21
With star quarterback Jaden Rashada at home because of illness, sophomore Marley Alcantara took the starter’s role and threw five touchdown passes to lead Pittsburg to a victory over host Antioch in the Big Little Game. In the final regular season game for Pittsburg coach Victor Galli, who announced this week that he will step down after the season, the Pirates pulled away in the second half. Joseph Dycus has the recap here.
No. 3 De La Salle 42, No. 9 Clayton Valley Charter 6
De La Salle finished with more than 300 rushing yards, much of it behind senior linemen Derek Thompson and Cooper Powers, as the Spartans rolled on the road in a game that was played with a running clock for the entire fourth quarter. “This is the expectation. This is why you come to De La Salle,” Thompson said in a jubilant postgame locker room. DLS improved to 7-3. Clayton Valley is 6-4. Darren Sabedra has the details here.
No. 4 McClymonds 60, Castlemont 6
One week from its biggest game of the regular season, McClymonds showed no signs of a letdown as it cruised past Castlemont (4-5, 2-2). Running back Jaivian Thomas carried 17 times for 272 yards and four touchdowns, and quarterback Deontae Faison completed 7-of-11 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown and also ran for two scores. The team ran for 430 yards. The defensive line held Castlemont to a minus-17 yards rushing. Defensive tackle Malik Richardson had six tackles-for-loss, and Joshua Shankin had two tackles for loss and two sacks. Friday, Castlemont plays at Fremont-Oakland, and McClymonds travels to Oakland Tech for what should be a preview of this year’s Silver Bowl. — Joseph Dycus
No. 5 Campolindo 35, Miramonte 7
Campolindo, the Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division champion, closed out a 10-0 regular season with a blowout win over rival Miramonte. Campo quarterback Dashiell Weaver had another great day, throwing for four touchdowns. Two went to wideout Robbie Mascheroni Jr., another to Brendan Comerford, and the other went to Tim Daugherty. James Giordani intercepted a Miramonte pass in the red zone and also scored a rushing touchdown. Bennett Destino ran for Miramonte’s only touchdown. Campolindo (10-0, 5-0) will be a No. 1 or 2 seed in the NCS Division II playoffs. Miramonte (6-4, 2-3), which has lost its past three, will be in the D-V bracket. – Joseph Dycus
No. 6 El Cerrito 49, Salesian 12
The Gauchos (10-0) were perfect in a full regular season for the first time since 2012. They were 5-0 in the pandemic-shortened spring 2021 season. They also won the TCAL Rock Division’s outright title for the third straight year. Michael Vanhook threw four touchdown passes as El Cerrito built a 28-6 halftime lead against Salesian, which finished 5-5. Daniel Harper caught two TD passes and Tony McAdoo scored twice on a 75-yard punt return and a 15-yard run. The Gauchos are the likely top seed in Division III of the North Coast Section playoffs. Salesian, which has won the last two CIF State 6A Division championships, should receive a chance to defend its titles, probably as a low seed in NCS Division VI. Moreau Catholic and unbeaten St. Mary’s-Berkeley appear to have the inside track as the division’s top two teams. – Mike Lefkow
No. 7 Sacred Heart Prep 34, Menlo School 7
Andrew Latu finished with 14 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns, plus an interception that resulted in a touchdown for the teammate he flipped the ball to and multiple tackles for loss, as Sacred Heart Prep routed Valparaiso Avenue neighbor Menlo School in the Valpo Bowl. SHP coach Mark Grieb said Latu was “phenomenal” on the night. Check out Alex Simon’s game story here.
No. 13 St. Francis 35, No. 14 Archbishop Mitty 13
In his first varsity start, sophomore running back Kingston Keanaaina rushed for 190 yards on 26 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead St. Francis to an impressive victory over Archbishop Mitty in a West Catholic Athletic League game at Foothill College. Sophomore QB Aaron Knapp, starting for the second consecutive week in place of injured Matt Dougherty, also was efficient for St. Francis. He completed 6 of 9 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns as the Lancers finished the regular season 7-3, 6-1. Mitty is 7-3, 4-3. David Kiefer has the recap here.
No. 23 Christopher 21, No. 18 Live Oak 19
Based on the stats the Christopher football team has posted on MaxPreps, senior Alan Canales has one role. He’s the kicker, and he does it quite well. The senior converted all three of his extra-point attempts Friday night, and that proved to be the difference in the Cougars’ two-point win over Live Oak. The outcome means there is a three-way tie in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division, with Lincoln-San Jose joining Christopher and Live Oak at 4-1 in league play. Just how that plays out when the Central Coast Section playoff brackets are announced Sunday is anyone’s guess. Christopher and Lincoln are 9-1 overall, Live Oak is 8-2. Figure Christopher or Lincoln for Division II, and the other team joining Live Oak in Division III. Damiann Gomez threw two touchdown passes for the Cougars, and William Rizqallah scored on an 8-yard run. Canales added the extra point after all three. He’s 34 for 37 on PATs this season and has connected on 8 of 10 field goals. He missed a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter Friday, but Jaiden Barton intercepted a pass with about a minute left to seal the win for Christopher. Saed Mustafa and Amari Bluford caught the TD passes. The lead changed hands three times before Bluford’s 54-yard catch and Canales’ point after in the third quarter made it 21-12. Live Oak got a splendid performance from Jordan Fuentes, who rushed for 214 yards and scored two TDs. – Mike Lefkow
No. 22 Lincoln-San Jose 28, Leland 27
Senior quarterback Tayden Phillips ran for 139 yards and three touchdowns in 24 carries and passed for 104 as Lincoln, playing on the road, edged Leland to clinch a share of the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division title with Christopher and Live Oak. The teams finished 4-1 in league play. Senior running back Salvador Espinoza also had a huge game for Lincoln, rushing for 208 yards and a touchdown in 27 carries. Lincoln (9-1) led 14-7 at halftime but trailed 21-14 entering the fourth quarter. Leland finished 2-8, 0-5. — Darren Sabedra
Amador Valley 16, No. 24 California 6
Amador Valley (5-5, 1-4) closed out the regular season with its only league win, and two-way standout Brady Nassar had a lot to do with it. Nassar anchored a defense that held California (5-5, 1-4) to one rushing touchdown. He also ran for both of Amador Valley’s touchdowns. Jake Kramer intercepted a California pass to set up a Riley Balch field goal that made it a two-possession game. Amador Valley and California are both hoping to make the playoffs in the NCS Open/Division I bracket. — Joseph Dycus
East Bay
Alameda 44, American 24
AJ Parker and Will Rosen each had two touchdowns to propel Alameda past visiting American in an MVAL/WACC game. Christian Baca had a rushing touchdown and an interception, Eli Slez finished with three touchdowns and Gabe Speed had an interception. Alameda finished the regular season 5-4-1, 3-2. American went 3-7, 2-3. – Jesús Cano
Berkeley 49, Irvington 8
Berkeley stated its case for a spot in the NCS Division II playoffs, finishing undefeated in MVAL/WACC Mission Division play with a rout of Irvington at Tak Fudenna Stadium in Fremont. Jackson Harris — a 6-foot-3 senior wide receiver/free safety who has eight scholarship offers, including Stanford and Cal, according to 247sports.com — had a game-high five receptions for 149 yards. Berkeley is 7-3, 5-0. Irvington fell to 5-5, 1-4. Phil Jensen has more in his game story here.
Freedom 46, Deer Valley 16
Herschel Turner ran for 237 yards and four touchdowns to lead Freedom past host Deer Valley in Bay Valley Athletic League play. Samje Featherstone had 92 receiving yards and two touchdowns and Tai Reed caught a touchdown pass. Ayanfe Adediran Jr. had two rushing touchdowns for Deer Valley. Freedom snapped its four-game losing streak and finished 3-6, 1-4. Deer Valley didn’t win a game. – Jesús Cano
Moreau Catholic 35, Mt. Eden 14
Moreau Catholic stretched its winning streak to four games, building a 14-0 lead after one quarter and a 21-0 lead after three on its way to a victory on the road to complete MVAL/Mission Division play. Dean-Taylor Chapman had another strong game for Moreau, rushing for 173 yards and four touchdowns in 19 carries. Sophomore Luca Oca completed 13 of 19 passes for 153 yards as Moreau improved to 7-3, 4-1. Mt. Eden fell to 5-5, 2-3. Moreau will be among the favorites in the NCS Division VI playoffs. Mt. Eden isn’t likely to be selected for the NCS D-II playoffs. — Darren Sabedra
South Bay/Peninsula/SF
Branham 28, Pioneer 0
In a winner-take-all game, William Augenstein ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 132 yards and another score as host Branham toppled Pioneer to win the Blossom Valley Athletic League anta Teresa-Foothill Division title on Thursday. Branham finished the regular season 9-1, 5-0. Pioneer is 8-2, 4-1. Both have qualified for the CCS playoffs. Joseph Dycus has more details here.
The King’s Academy 49, Milpitas 21
After winning the PAL/SCVAL El Camino Division last week, The King’s Academy finished its regular season with a non-league victory over Milpitas. Jeaden Underwood rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns and Jaalen Mhoon caught three touchdown passes. Pat Vasavakul had a 70-yard touchdown reception and returned a kick for a 75-yard touchdown. Matthew Kennedy had six tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The King’s Academy (8-2, 5-0) will await its playoff seeding Sunday. Milpitas finished 2-8, 1-4. – Jesús Cano